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Afghanistan

Taliban Demolish Famous Kabul Cinema

A number of Afghan cultural figures and filmmakers consider the destruction of the historic Ariana Cinema by the Taliban government to be an erasure of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. A shopping mall will reportedly replace it. Built in the 1960s, the Kabul cinema attracted film fans for decades.

Afghans walk by the site of the demolished historical Ariana Cinema in Kabul on December 18. The Taliban government's move to destroy the theater is considered by a number of Afghan cultural figures, filmmakers, and actors to be an attack on the country's cultural heritage.
1 Afghans walk by the site of the demolished historical Ariana Cinema in Kabul on December 18. The Taliban government's move to destroy the theater is considered by a number of Afghan cultural figures, filmmakers, and actors to be an attack on the country's cultural heritage.
A source inside Kabul's local government, which is under the control of the Taliban, told RFE/RL that the cinema was demolished to make way for a commercial shopping center.
2 A source inside Kabul's local government, which is under the control of the Taliban, told RFE/RL that the cinema was demolished to make way for a commercial shopping center.
Cast and crew of the short film Mardab Lala gather outside the Ariana Cinema on August 29, 2022, the date of the theater's reopening following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
3 Cast and crew of the short film Mardab Lala gather outside the Ariana Cinema on August 29, 2022, the date of the theater's reopening following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
Built in the 1960s, the renowned Kabul cinema attracted the city's film fans for decades. These moviegoers watched a Bollywood film there on May 3, 2012.
4 Built in the 1960s, the renowned Kabul cinema attracted the city's film fans for decades. These moviegoers watched a Bollywood film there on May 3, 2012.
An audience awaits the premiere of Black Tulip at the Ariana Cinema on September 10, 2010. The film depicts the struggle to preserve cultural expression in Afghanistan in the face of extremist threats.
5 An audience awaits the premiere of Black Tulip at the Ariana Cinema on September 10, 2010. The film depicts the struggle to preserve cultural expression in Afghanistan in the face of extremist threats.
Workers stand among film cans inside a crowded storage room on May 3, 2012.Afghan cinemas have long been dilapidated and underfunded, the result of an industry suffering from conflict and financial despair.
6 Workers stand among film cans inside a crowded storage room on May 3, 2012.
Afghan cinemas have long been dilapidated and underfunded, the result of an industry suffering from conflict and financial despair.
A cinema employee sells refreshments during an intermission on May 3, 2012.
7 A cinema employee sells refreshments during an intermission on May 3, 2012.
An employee winds a roll of film in the projection room at the Ariana Cinema.
8 An employee winds a roll of film in the projection room at the Ariana Cinema.
French soldiers from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stand guard outside Kabul’s Ariana Cinema on May 23, 2004, during an earlier reopening ceremony. The landmark theater, destroyed during Afghanistan’s 1992-1996 civil war, was restored through a French-led reconstruction effort
9 French soldiers from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stand guard outside Kabul’s Ariana Cinema on May 23, 2004, during an earlier reopening ceremony. The landmark theater, destroyed during Afghanistan’s 1992-1996 civil war, was restored through a French-led reconstruction effort

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